PLANS have been submitted to demolish buildings on the Esplanade and replace them with a seven-storey office block.
The proposed work would cover 19-21 Esplanade, which currently includes the Cargo Coffee Shop, Signature Executive, as well as a derelict and unused building.
The scheme would see all three buildings demolished and replaced with a commercial office building, with one basement level. Minor changes would also be carried out in neighbouring buildings to facilitate the work.
Architect firm Axis Mason, which submitted the application on behalf of GREL (19-21 Esplanade) Limited, said: “The proposals will transform a prominent but underused and decaying site into a best-in-class, future-ready workplace—one that redefines expectations for commercial development in St Helier while delivering clear, lasting public value.”
They added: “Brought forward by GREL, the scheme forms Phase 2 of a wider programme of investment along the Esplanade, following the recently proposed redevelopment of 17½–18 Esplanade. Together, the projects signal a long-term commitment to quality, sustainability and the careful renewal of St Helier’s commercial core.”
Last November, a proposal was put in place, also by Axis Mason, for 17.5-18 Esplanade to have the aluminium cladding replaced with a living wall system, adjacent to 19-21 Esplanade.
A new pedestrian route is planned through the site, linking The Esplanade with Commercial Street, based around a courtyard designed to create a welcoming public space with greenery.
The architect firm said that sustainability is at the heart of the project, adding: “Public benefit is fundamental to the scheme.
“By regenerating a prominent brownfield site in the heart of St Helier, the proposals unlock the full potential of a highly accessible town-centre location—making better use of land, encouraging sustainable travel, and delivering urban realm improvements that benefit the wider public, not just future occupiers.”
